Acetone should not react directly with aluminium nor any other metal. Depending on the product you buy there could be impurities though that could corrode aluminium. So the purer acetone the better.
Acetone should not react directly with aluminium nor any other metal. Depending on the product you buy there could be impurities though that could corrode aluminium. So the purer acetone the better.
That is what I thought as well. I bought a lot of miscellaneous coins and in it there were a couple aluminum coins. Since they were at varying degrees of circulation, I placed them in 100% acetone. The acetone etched the aluminum coins.
In order to see if it was something else that could have done it, I placed a couple of common aluminum coins by themselves in a bath of acetone (again, 100% acetone. They were in a glass container covered with a metal lid to prevent the acetone from evaporating). The same thing happened.
So, I looked it up. Here is a post that summarizes the reaction a little:
One more thing, and this may be an important point:
I left the coins in the bath for approximately two days (48 hrs), both the original lot coins and the experimental ones. It may have been too long, but if the cleaning affects the coins in any way from the getgo, I rather not do it unless really necessary. So I wanted to know.
Unless it's reagent grade and it comes with the fitting labels (and price tag ~35$+/L) the wording on this consumer bottle of nail polish remover means little. For most uses it will be more then enough without perfume and castor oils but by no means without impurities.
For most stuff it is not worth it and usually you don't have to clean Aluminium coins anyway.
Edit: 48h is very long indeed, I have cleaned thick varnish of coins in a few hours with a bit of agitation now and then (with multiple exchanges of dirty solvent).
Unless it's reagent grade and it comes with the fitting labels (and price tag ~35$+/L) the wording on this consumer bottle of nail polish remover means little. For most uses it will be more then enough without perfume and castor oils but by no means without impurities.
No, Sir. This means a lot over here. This is professional grade acetone. I have my wife get it for me as she has her own salon and has the license to get it.
Again, I left them for 48 hrs originally because I believed it did not react with metals. The second time I wanted to see how much it reacted for the already observed time.
To @Jasanche - Oops, this sounds risky, I will surely be on my guard and I am planning to do not more than 30 minutes
To @Idolenz - It is a typical nail polish remover that is perfumed, since these coins have little numismatics value, I will have little loss in risking them
I've tried dipping my coins in Acetone, Olive Oil & Soap for a quick wash to a few weeks. Still, nothing worked well. Coin cleaner acid, Lemon juice, Vinegar + salt are all destructive. They change coin color and remove the original glow of coins.
What I use now is a pencil eraser. People say even this is destructive but I feel that it restores the original color and luster of the coin.
I don't have rare and costly coins so I am not scared of losing value.
Many of my old coins got sticky being stored in albums with PVC pockets. I prefer cleaning them before putting them in coin holders.
Aluminum coins … I've ruined many before I realized that I should not try anything on these.
TOOTHPASTE, just regular old toothpaste, seems to work well (and isn't destructive so long as it's regular toothpaste with none of those ‘micro particles’ in it).
I've also used ethanol and vinegar, but those can be destructive to some extent.
TOOTHPASTE, just regular old toothpaste, seems to work well (and isn't destructive so long as it's regular toothpaste with none of those ‘micro particles’ in it).
I've also used ethanol and vinegar, but those can be destructive to some extent.
Toothpast is actually a grinding/polishing-stuff like Brasso…so it may clean (and shine) the coin by taking a layer off….
Tooth paste is an abrasive so it is of course destructive, that's how it works on your teeth (be it with minerals, or polymers) to remove the plaque (hopefully before your enamel).
Tooth paste is an abrasive so it is of course destructive, that's how it works on your teeth (be it with minerals, or polymers) to remove the plaque (hopefully before your enamel).
Indeed, ‘abrasive’ was the word I was looking for. Thanks.
